Joss Whedon isn’t a guy who needs to define his career at this point; thanks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and other shows he is very well-established as a creator with a specific voice. That said, Whedon really seems to be coming into his own in 2012. The biggest project on his resume so far, The Avengers (a film that would be the biggest on the resume of anyone shy of James Cameron or Peter Jackson) is garnering rave reviews left and right.

Even as that movie was being finished, Whedon was also occupying the other end of the spectrum, with a micro-budget black and white film based on William Shakespeare‘s Much Ado About Nothing. Shot in a couple weeks at Whedon’s home, the Shakespeare film was announced last fall and features Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, Alexis Denisof, Fran Kranz, Amy Acker, Riki Lindhome, and Clark Gregg, plus Spencer Treat Clark, Jillian Morgese, and more.

We’ve seen a couple photos from the small production, but now a news report on the current state of Whedon’s career delivers the first footage from the film. Check that out below.

Six minutes or so into the embed below you’ll find a couple of quick bits from Much Ado About Nothing. It’s not a lot, but enough to see that Whedon preserved Shakespeare’s dialogue. There isn’t enough here to give us a real sense of how the film might play, but it is a good tease for the finished product, and a reminder of Whedon’s general commitment to storytelling. Not many filmmakers would take a vacation from The Avengers by tackling Shakespeare.

Check out the video on the SOURCE page now!

According to IMDB Spencer is currently filming “The Last Exorcism 2″. He will play a character named Chris! Hopefully I will be able to find out more soon.

It’s much ado about something.

Joss Whedon has directed, adapted, cast and filmed an entire movie — an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” — in secret, TheWrap has learned.

Whedon, who created “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” and wrote and directed Marvel’s upcoming “The Avengers,” wrote and directed the movie, an individual close to the project told TheWrap Sunday night.

On Sunday night, a website appeared announcing that Whedon’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” which it says is “based on a play,” has completed principal photography. Two people close to the project confirmed that Whedon had indeed filmed a secret movie, and only announced it on Sunday night.

The independent film doesn’t yet have distribution.

Actors include Sean Maher, who starred on Whedon’s “Firefly” and in his 2005 movie “Serenity;” Fran Kranz, who stars in “The Cabin in the Woods,” which Whedon wrote and is producing; “Castle,” “Firefly” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Nathan Fillion and “Angel” and “Cabin” star Amy Acker. Spencer Treat Clark and Jillian Morgese, newcomers to Whedon’s projects, also star.

Some of the actors took to Twitter to express excitement about the film Sunday night.

“I promise you it’s the real deal and we’re VERY excited about it!” Maher wrote.

He also tweeted, “Surprise! We just wrapped today…”

Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” is the kind of project Whedon likes. Its use of malapropisms appeals to Whedon’s style, as do its characters who have unconventional views about love.

The play is a comedy about two sets of lovers. The fast-talking Benedick and Beatrice banter cynically while the sweet young Claudio and Hero are so in love they can barely speak.

Benedick and Beatrice get tricked into proclaiming their love for eachother while Claudio is fooled into rejecting Hero at the altar. But the scheme is foiled and the two couples wed.

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‘Druid Peak’ filming at Teton High Saturday
Posted: Thursday, September 15, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 11:32 am, Thu Sep 15, 2011.
Ken Levy TVN Staff

Teton High School students have an opportunity to be in the movies Saturday. They’ll need to stop by the school office today to get the necessary release forms.

Scenes from the upcoming flick “Druid Peak” will be filmed at the high school beginning at 7 a.m., said Jeff Petriello, a producer for the film now a week into principal production.

“We’ll be doing two small scenes involving the high school and students,” Petriello said.

Here are excerpts from the synopsis of the film, written and directed by Marni Zelnick:

“Druid Peak is a coming-of-age story about a troubled teenage boy who finds his place in the world tracking wolves in thewild lands of Wyoming.

“Sixteen year-old Owen Wagner (Spencer Treat Clark) is a bully with a mean streak. Growing up in coal country West Virginia, he is shipped off to live with his father, a biologist working on Yellowstone’s wolf reintroduction program.

“On a failed attempt to escape the park, he has his first encounter with a Canadian gray wolf. The creature’s deep, penetrating gaze startles him — stirring something long dead inside his own self.

“[His father] encourages Owen to collect some basic data about the wolf he saw and its family pack — the Druid Peak pack. Owe’s small assignment grows into a passion and his own life becomes deeply tied to the Druid Peak wolves and their struggle for survival.

“When a change in government policy threatens the animals, Owen must decide how far he will go to protect the wolves, his father, and the place he has finally come to call home.”

The scenes filmed at the high school, including exterior shots showing the beauty of the area, come near the end of the movie, Petriello said. While students enter the building, Owen spots his love interest, Zoe, played by Rachel Korine.

Petriello said the scene then shifts to a chemistry classroom for the first day of school, where Owen appears to be a troublemaker. But the scene will show the difference between this school’s experience and his problems in West Virginia, his new life versus his old.

The movie won’t be specific about exactly where this takes place, but anyone who’s been in the valley will recognize the scenes.

Students in the film are encouraged to wear their Teton High School gear, he said.

About 50 students are needed for the scenes, said Katie Yarbrough, student body president. She and Lydia Hanson, student body vice president, are coordinating the student-recruitment effort. Contact Yarbrough at (208) 881-1390 or email katie.yarbrough@yahoo.com.

“James Franco’s production company, Rabbit Bandini Productions, is an executive producer of the film,” said Petriello. “They are providing us with support in both pre- and post-production.”

Petriello praised THS Principal Jeff Brandt and Teton School District Superintendent Monte Woolstenhulme for being “so gracious and open to help. It’s difficult to find schools willing to participate.”

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Brandt told the TSD board Monday.

“This is a chance for the kids to be involved with something bigger than they’re used to,” said Petriello.

An additional scene will be filmed locally, with Spike Minczeski, director of Teton Aviation, flying a wolf-tracking plane, Petriello said. The date for that filming depends on the weather.

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